Student Housing Paris
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Financial aid

Student housing benefit in Paris:
€80 to €320/month depending on your situation

France's housing benefit, known as APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement), can cut your rent by €100-300/month. Who qualifies? How do you apply? Can it be combined with a scholarship? We cover it all — including what's different if you're arriving from abroad.

Quick answer

  • ✅ Amount: €80 to €320/month in Île-de-France (depends on income)
  • ✅ Eligibility: APL-eligible property, live there as your main residence, generally open to international students on a valid residence permit
  • ✅ Applying: on caf.fr after signing your lease (processing: 2-3 months)
  • ✅ Combining with a scholarship: APL + CROUS scholarship can be combined

Skip to the number that matters to you

The official scale is useful, but what you'll actually pay is what matters. Our calculator estimates your real out-of-pocket cost across the 9 residences and compares it to a studio inside central Paris.

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1. What is student housing benefit (APL)?

APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement) is France's main housing benefit: a monthly payment from CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales, the French family benefits office) paid directly to your bank account or to your landlord. It reduces the rent you actually pay if you rent an eligible property.

Unlike ALS (a related, less generous housing benefit), APL only applies to housing that has signed a formal agreement ("convention") with the French state. All 9 residences on this site are APL-eligible.

Good to know

Since 2020, APL is calculated using your income from the past 12 months (updated in near real time), not your income from two years prior. This "contemporary" system adapts faster to a student's actual situation — useful if you're arriving in France with little or no prior French income history.

2. Eligibility for student housing benefit in Paris

🏠

An APL-eligible property

The property must have a signed agreement with the French state. All residences on this site qualify. Always check this before signing any other lease.

🏡

Your main residence

The property must be your main residence (at least 8 months a year). You can't claim APL if you're staying somewhere for free, without a lease in your name.

👤

Be the named tenant

You need a lease in your own name. In a flatshare, each flatmate named on the lease can apply for APL individually.

💶

Income under the threshold

APL is means-tested, but in practice most students qualify. It's your own income that counts (not your parents', if you're not their tax dependent in France).

🌍

International students

EU/EEA citizens are eligible on the same terms as French students. Non-EU students generally need a valid residence permit (titre de séjour) or a VLS-TS student visa validated as a residence permit. It's worth applying regardless of nationality — the eligibility check is quick on caf.fr.

3. How much is APL worth in Île-de-France?

The amount depends on your rent, your income, and your geographic zone. Île-de-France is Zone 1, the highest rent ceiling in the country.

Example amounts — studio in Île-de-France (2026)

Situation Rent Estimated APL Real cost
No income, not a scholarship recipient €676 ~ €250-280 ~ €380-410
Working student (€600/month net) €700 ~ €180-220 ~ €480-520
Working student (€1,000/month net) €760 ~ €100-150 ~ €600-650

⚠️ These figures are estimates

The exact APL calculation depends on many factors. Use the official simulator on caf.fr for a precise estimate before you sign a lease.

4. How to apply for APL

1

Sign your lease

You can only apply for APL after signing your lease. In the residences on this site, signing is electronic and takes under 48 hours.

2

Create your CAF account on caf.fr

If you don't have a CAF beneficiary number yet, one is created on your first application. Have your French social security number ready, or apply for one if you don't have it yet.

3

Fill in the online form

You'll enter: your income over the past 12 months, your lease details (number, address, rent), and your landlord's information. Choose direct payment to simplify things.

4

Wait for the decision (2-3 months)

CAF typically takes 2-3 months to process a file. The first payment is retroactive to your application date. Under direct payment, later payments land automatically on the 5th of each month.

5

Update your income yearly

CAF recalculates your APL in near real time. Report any change in your situation (income, employment, end of studies) promptly to avoid having to repay an overpayment.

5. Other financial aid for student housing

🛡️ Visale guarantee

A free rental guarantee for under-30s with no personal guarantor — including international students whose family can't provide French income documents. Replaces a parental guarantee. Apply at visale.fr BEFORE signing your lease.

Free · Action Logement

🎓 CROUS scholarship

Awarded on financial-need criteria, from €100/month (tier 0) to €580/month (tier 7). Can be combined with APL. Apply through Parcoursup or the Dossier Social Étudiant (DSE).

Combinable with APL

💰 Loca-Pass

A free advance on your security deposit for work-study students and young employees. Repayable over 25 monthly instalments. Offered by Action Logement.

For work-study students

🏙️ Local and city aid

Some Île-de-France towns offer supplementary housing aid for students (emergency funds, move-in support). Check with your local CCAS (town social services office) or local CROUS.

Varies by town

FAQ – Student Housing Benefit in Paris

How much is student housing benefit worth in Paris in 2026?
Housing benefit (APL) for a student in Île-de-France ranges from €80 to €320/month depending on your income and rent. For a €676/month studio, bills included, it's usually between €150 and €280. Run the official simulator on caf.fr for a precise figure.
Can international students receive APL?
Yes, in most cases. Any student renting an APL-eligible property can apply, including international students on a valid student residence permit or an EU/EEA citizen, provided the housing is their main residence. Non-EU students should hold a valid titre de séjour (residence permit) or visa long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS). The rules can vary by individual situation, so confirm your own eligibility on caf.fr.
How do I apply for housing benefit for student housing?
Apply online on caf.fr once you've signed your lease. You'll need: your French social security number (or a temporary one if you don't have one yet), your lease number, your landlord's details, and your income from the past 12 months. Processing takes 2-3 months, with retroactive payment back to your application date.
Can I combine APL with a CROUS scholarship?
Yes, APL and a CROUS scholarship can be combined. The scholarship counts toward your income when APL is calculated, which can slightly reduce the APL amount, but both aids are paid. A tier-3 scholarship holder (€302/month) can also receive €150-200 in APL.
Is APL paid from the first month?
No, the first payment arrives 2-3 months after you apply, but it includes a retroactive back-payment to your move-in date. APL is paid on the 5th of each month into your account, or directly to your landlord if you chose direct payment.
What is APL direct payment (tiers payant)?
Under direct payment, CAF pays your APL straight to your landlord. You only pay the difference between your rent and the APL amount. This simplifies budgeting and avoids fronting the full rent. It's the default option in all residences on this site.

All our residences are APL-eligible

Furnished studios from €651/month. After APL, real cost from ~€400/month.

See all residences Student housing guide →